Opposing PPM to field candidates for all seats in local council election

Opposing Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) has revealed that the party will be fielding candidates for all seats in the upcoming local council election.

In a press conference held Thursday night by the PPM-PNC coalition, former housing minister and deputy president PPM Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said all candidates from the opposition that contest in the local council election will be competing on PPM tickets. The decision was made collectively by the PPM-PNC joint council, said Dr. Muizzu.

Muizzu announced that the party will be contesting for all 890 seats in the election.

"We have made the decision for our coalition to contest for all seats in the upcoming local council election. [Candidates from the PPM-PNC coalition] will be contesting on PPM tickets. Hopefully, PPM will field candidates for all seats of all sectors," Dr. Muizzu revealed.

Dr. Muizzu added that application forms will be issued to those who wish to contest in the local council election on party tickets from Thursday. Submissions will be accepted until January 7, 2020.

Muizzu urged PNC members who wish to contest on PPM ticket to join the party at the earliest and request for the ticket. He further revealed that if multiple candidates apply for the same seat, a primary will be held before the ticket is awarded.

The local council election is slated for April 4, 2020.

923 councillors will be elected to island councils in next year's election. Elections Commission revealed that 372 of these seats are reserved for women as per the recently amended Decentralization Act which mandates for 33% of every council to be occupied by women.

While 179 council presidents will be elected, 18 people will be elected to each atoll council including council presidents, bringing the total number of representatives on atoll councils to 197.

36 councillors will be elected to city councils, out of which 12 seats will be reserved for women. The remaining 24 seats can be occupied by both men and women. A total of 39 members will be on the city council including three mayors.